Just walkin' the dog(s)
Most of my friends are pretty active gals. They regularly work out at the gym, fitness boot camp or other similarly strenuous locations.
Not me. I walk. With my dogs. Same time, same route, same five out of seven days each week.
Here are some highlights of our daily fitness routine:
Out the gate and ready to roll, with Mickey in the lead and Lyla working on the "focus" command.
Now she's got it, periscope ear up and all -- proof that she's focused! (Keep an eye on that ear throughout; it does not go down!)
On the road ...
... past the open area where the deer and the fox like to roam.
Up the hill to the house where the maniac dog of questionable breed rushes the chain link fence, providing the best arm workout of the trek as I try to force the dogs to maintain at least minimal composure. (It doesn't usually work.)
Back down the hill again.
Trit, trot, trit, trot (with a tangled leash, evidence that composure was lost on the way down the hill).
This is the house of the man who hates Mickey ... and Lyla ... and me ... and every other living being (except his grass, which I think he manicures with scissors).
Up the next big hill ...
... where wondrous views await ...
... of ... Walmart and its busy parking lot ... at 9:30 on a weekday morning! While K-Mart, across the street, sports a nearly empty lot. (Poor K-Mart.) Okay, not the greatest of views, but if you turn the other direction, you get ...
... ta-da! Pikes Peak! This is the view we appreciate most.
Even Mickey can't get enough of the natural wonder. (Lyla can't get over the empty parking lot at K-Mart.)
While standing in the same spot, we need only glance slightly to the left for a full view of Cheyenne Mountain, with NORAD deep within. Well, it used to be the home of NORAD but now they've gone and moved it to a totally unsafe -- in my opinion -- location, with just bits and pieces left deep inside the mountain. But that's another story, for another time and featuring fewer photos.
Continuing on our way, with me searching the field where the fox den is located, ready to provide a detour if a fox comes our way.
Past the house where the nice man likes to smile and yell across the street, "Who's walking who? Ha, ha!" (Like I've never heard that six hundred and fifty-two trillion times before. But that's okay cuz he's nice ... and he thinks it's funny.)
One more view of Pikes Peak ...
... then we're homeward bound.
Ah, home sweet home!
The dogs make sure the coast is clear: No squirrels. No birds. It's a go.
And we're back where we began.
Fitness mission accomplished!
Sure, there are no pushups, no pullups, no plank positions involved. But the yanking of the leashes this way and that way while avoiding fox, squirrel, deer and passing vehicles (which are like crack to Lyla, who's having a difficult time giving up the habit) is more than enough workout for this grandma.
Mickey and Lyla, on the other hand, are ready for more. They dash off into the backyard the second the gate is opened, scaring the cuss out of each and every robin, wren, mourning dove and squirrel who had the gall to relax in the shade, eat from the bird feeders or splash in the water while the dog patrol was out making its neighborhood rounds.
Today's question:
What's your exercise routine?
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Reader Comments (14)
Loved going on your walk with you this morning! Some nice views you have there - except for the WalMart parking lot thing. Too funny about the two totally different men you meet on your walk. When we were in Yellowstone at Old Faithful, there was a man standing next to me that kept saying "Thar she blows! HAHA! Thar she blows!" He definitely thought he was an original.
My exercise routine is a mix of step aerobics, kettlebell, free weights and most recently, running. Um, but not on the same day.
I love the walk route! I get out and walk our pup at least once a day, too.
Sorry, I'm one of the boot camp girls. However after two years, I'm actually getting pretty sick of it. (Sorry, Pam.)
Whew! I'm exhausted from going on your walk with the kids. Beautiful pictures, I loved 'em.
I don't have a routine but, now and then, I type, exercising my fingers!!
What a beautiful walk! Wowzers.
What a beautiful walk you have! I walk with a neighbor friend five mornings a week for exercise.
The other day I had to go by myself. I found myself at the end of a rural street with no houses around and a big stray dog between me and where I had to go. He had positioned himself right in the middle of the street and standing firm. The dog put some fear in me and I chose to bend over and pick up a rock to protect myself. I had heard somewhere not to make eye contact with a dog who is acting aggressive. He wasn't acting aggressive but I was afraid if I got any closer he would. So, without really looking at him I took my one shot to scare him off with the very small rock I had. I made my throw and it wasn't a very good one at all. It actually hit the ground then slowly tumbled towards him. He just walked forward and sniffed the rock. I thought I was in big trouble.
To my surprise, he put his tail between his legs and ran off. He probably was there to just say good morning and I was the unfriendly and aggressive one!
Amber: I guess we'll start calling Ms. Active ... or Ms. Buff ... or Ms. I-Can't-Believe-All-This-Gal-Does! But it pays off cuz you're looking fit as a fiddle, my friend!
Kate: Yeah, I know, you walk your dog, too. But I think my 120 pounds combined weight trump your little Ein. :o) THAT must be why you still continue Boot Camp, right? To add that extra layer of exercise just to put you at MY workout level. Yeah, that's it!
Ann: Well, you gotta start somewhere. Glad you're at least letting your fingers do the walking.
Tracey: That means a lot coming from you, owner of the most beautiful nine acres ever!
Shelley: That's pretty scary ... although ultimately it really does sound like it was more scary for the little canine fella!
Beautiful scenery :-) Especially liked seeing a perky dog ear :-) hee!
Your neighbor with the manicured lawn reminds me of my in-laws' former neighbor. He was actually seen on his lawn with a ruler, measuring the height of the grass. Scary.
My exercise routine consists of setting the alarm clock, hitting snooze, or turning off the alarm, going back to sleep. Waking up late, looking at the Yoga or Pilates DVD and thinking, "meh." I do the DVDs maybe 2x weekly, if that - HELP! I'm SO LAZY!!!
I try to walk for about 30 minutes 5 out of 7 days a week, in the morning too, before it gets too hot. But I've been visiting the in-laws this past week and have had no exercise! I will need to get back to my routine in a few days.
Kathy: Yep, Lyla has the weirdest perky ear thing going on. I think it's because she was a stray not long before we got her, and she must have felt like she always had to be on alert for anything and everything. Or she's just weird. Too funny about the snooze and the DVDs. I used to do the DVD exercise ... about twice a week. :o)
Debbie: Good thing you've been out of town the past week as it's been HOT, HOT, HOT ... until tonight when all hail broke loose again, beating my poor little pumpkins to shreds again! Have a safe trip home.
Love the dog walking pictures. Do you know about Creatively Fit? It!s a group of women bloggers who take their cameras with them when they walk. I have been terrible about walking lately...think my dog Lola and I will go today. thanks for the inspiration.
Creatively fit is at http://photophit.bloodspot.com
Oops that should be photophit.blogspot.com (typing on my iPad)
Cynthia: Thanks for stopping by! I checked out Creatively Fit; what a great concept for a blog. (And so glad it wasn't at "bloodspot.com"!) :o) I appreciate the visit and the comment! Come again any time!
Beautiful walk!
My current exercise routine starts with the dogs flying out of the house at 7am. About every fourth morning at 7:30am I get to chase my crazy puppy that can climb our brand-new, outrageously-expensive 6' fence that we put in this summer because she was climbing the old one. That's about one hour of aerobic exercise in the open space, along with the vocal exercise I get by yelling a lot. Then there's the "what can I put on top of the fence to keep her in now" mental exercise, followed by the "trip to Home Depot for supplies" financial exercise. The upper body exercise of fence installation ends the day.
It's all an exercise in futility, because she just jumps somewhere else four days later!
Ha! Too funny, Joan! That's one heckuva routine you got going!